- Calvin Bassey was inspired to represent Nigeria internationally after watching Lionel Messi’s memorable performance against the Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup
- Bassey, who had the option to play for multiple nations, made his decision after witnessing the intensity of the Nigeria-Argentina match
- Now a Super Eagles regular, Bassey has since made 28 appearances for Nigeria and remains a key player at Fulham, earning praise from his manager Marco Silva
Calvin Bassey, Fulham’s promising Super Eagles defender, recently shared the moment that inspired him to represent Nigeria on the global stage. Born to Nigerian parents in Italy and raised in England, Bassey could have chosen to play for any of three football-obsessed nations.
Yet, as he recounted in a recent interview with Sky Sports, it was an unforgettable performance by Lionel Messi that swayed his decision.
During the 2018 World Cup, Nigeria faced Argentina in an important group match, and the young Bassey, still developing his skills in Leicester City’s youth teams, watched the game with so much passion. The match held critical importance for Nigeria, as they needed at least a draw to reach the knockout stages.
In a thrilling encounter, Argentina managed a 2-1 victory, with Messi displaying his iconic brilliance in the opener. Bassey vividly recalled the goal,
“Messi, of course – Messi is Messi innit – he scored that outrageous goal. I think it was knee, foot, then right foot. It was top.”
But beyond the admiration for Messi, the match in itself stirred something deeper in Bassey,
“That was more of a motivation for me to want to play for Nigeria and also play on the big stage,” he admitted.
In 2021, Bassey committed to Nigeria’s national team, debuting in March 2022 during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Since then, he has earned 28 caps and was instrumental in the Super Eagles’ impressive run to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they emerged as runners-up.
Recently, Fulham manager Marco Silva has praised the young defender, stating,
“Calvin had an impact last season. He has the skills, ability and talent to be a top central defender. I really trust him. I really believe he has the capacity to be a very good central defender. He has everything.”
Bassey’s choice to represent Nigeria speaks to his pride and passion for the Super Eagles and the inspiration he found in the world’s greatest players.
Super Eagles withdraw from AFCON qualifier after 12-hour airport ordeal in Libya
Previously, TheRadar reported that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) made the difficult decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.
This decision followed a distressing 12-hour ordeal at Al Abraq International Airport, where the Nigerian team was stranded with no assistance from local authorities. The situation quickly escalated into a diplomatic nightmare, leaving players and officials frustrated as they were abandoned in a strange Libya environment.
